Today across East Tennessee, there is a 70 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 9 a.m. Some storms could be severe, with large hail and damaging winds. It will be partly sunny and breezy, with a southwest wind 10 mph to 20 mph; some gusts could reach 30 mph. The high is near 87.

Tonight, there's a 40 percent chance for more scattered showers and thunderstorms before 9 p.m. The possibility for severe storms remains. It will be mostly cloudy with a low around 61 and north wind 5 mph to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Today's cloudy and stormy weather is in contrast to Wednesday, when temperatures reached 92 degrees, the first day this year where the temperature has topped 90 degrees for Knoxville. The local heat index — air temperature adjusted for humidity — topped out around 98 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

With severe storms with possible hail in the forecast, stay safe by downloading our Storm Shield app to get pinpoint weather alerts. Storm Shield operates on your smartphone much like a traditional weather radio, but with enhanced features and at a fraction of the cost.